CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell sentenced a former Charlotte City Councilwoman and her two daughters after they pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy for fraudulently obtaining more than $146,665 in COVID relief funds.
Tiawana Brown, 55, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 10 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and agreed to forfeit $22,500 in fraud proceeds. Tijema Brown, 32, and Antionette Rouse, 34, also of Charlotte, were each sentenced to two years of probation and four months of home detention, respectively. Tijema Brown and Antionette Rouse each agreed to forfeit $51,666 in fraud proceeds. The defendants were also ordered to pay restitution to the Small Business Administration (SBA) in the amount of $137,280.09. To date, Tiawana Brown has paid $20,833 in restitution.
According to court records, between April 2020 and…
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